After 1,161 games, Shane Doan finally recorded his first NHL hat trick in the most fitting way possible for a player who 38 previous times was a goal away. He scored as time expired and only after a review could the real celebration begin.

As many times as Doan has come close to a three-goal night, it would have been a cruel twist of fate had this one been overturned.

The Coyotes captain spearheaded the 5-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena in front of 13,350 in a game that the team hopes to use as a springboard to success for its upcoming three-game road trip.

Asked how it felt after "years and years and years" to reach this plateau, Doan grinned and said, "You didn't need to throw in extra years; just years, maybe.

"It was cool. It was obviously kind of different in the way that it happened, but my teammates kept giving me the puck, and Tips (coach Dave Tippett) kept throwing me out there, and eventually something that had to happen."

What happened was that Doan's linemate Ray Whitney, known as "The Wizard," gave him a perfect pass.

The puck crossed the line, time expired and the red light went on all seemingly at the same time, and Doan had to sweat through the review.

"(I'm) thinking, 'Give it to him,'" Tippett said. "The scorer should have a slow finger or something.

"There was a lot of excitement on the bench the last five minutes of that game, a lot of players taking short shifts to get him back out there."

It was, however, far from a one-man show.

Goals by Taylor Pyatt and Oliver Ekman-Larsson helped keep the Islanders on their heels.

Goaltender Mike Smith was outstanding, making 31 saves.

He missed a shutout when a puck he thought he had stopped squeezed between his pads and crossed the line.

Mikkel Boedker and Keith Yandle had the other primary assists on Doan's goals.

Doan's first two goals against Evgeni Nabokov came early in both the first and second period. The three he scored Saturday gave him 12 on the season as he snapped a six-game streak without a goal.

"Doaner's like a big kid, and I was so happy to see that go in and count," Smith said.

"I think at that point, they had to count it whether it was a goal or not. It was pretty exciting.

"I've never seen a guy want a goal so bad. He was out there the last five minutes, probably four and a half of it. It was just a special moment for a guy that deserves it.

"He's a guy who's been around the league for so long, and he's such a great guy. It couldn't happen to a better person."

The Coyotes were strong on both ends of the ice, exhibiting the style of play they will need to make a successful playoff bid.

The only blip was a bit of a letdown for the final 10 minutes of the first period after the Islanders tied the score.

Doan said the Coyotes needed this type of game prior to the road trip, and that their hard work was rewarded.

"The other night in LA, we played well," he said.

"We had to play better, and it was one of those games that we found some bounces, and once we got them, we tried to take advantage of it."

Coyotes report

Key player: Coyotes right wing Shane Doan recorded his first career hat trick.

Key moment: In the hands of NHL review officials, Doan had to wait a few moments before learning that his third goal, scored as time expired, was good.

Key number: 31 Saves by Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith.

View from the press box

It was hard to tell who was happier, Shane Doan, his teammates or the fans. The Coyotes captain finally tossed the monkey off his back with his first hat trick. More importantly, the Coyotes needed the two points badly, and the emotional win could provide the boost they need as they go on the road for their next three games.